High-density energy storage and retrieval

Abstract

High temperature energy can be provided using a containment vessel, a heat retention matrix contained within the containment vessel, a volume of a working fluid contained within the containment vessel and in contact with the heat retention matrix, and, optionally, a reactive compound removal system that removes reactive compounds from the working fluid. The heat retention matrix can optionally include an allotropic form of carbon. The working fluid can optionally include nitrogen gas and one or more noble gases. Related systems, methods, articles of manufacture, and the like are also described.

1 . A system comprising:
 a containment vessel;   a heat retention matrix contained within the containment vessel, the heat retention matrix comprising an allotropic form of carbon that stores input energy as thermal energy; and   a volume of a working fluid contained within the containment vessel and in contact with the heat retention matrix; the working fluid comprising nitrogen gas and a noble gas and being generally inert to reaction with the allotropic form of carbon.   
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a reactive compound removal system that removes reactive compounds from the working fluid. 
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein the reactive compound removal system comprises a filtration medium. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising an energy input system for delivering the input energy to the heat retention matrix from an energy source and an energy output system for retrieving output energy from the heat retention matrix for delivery to an energy demand, the energy input system and the energy output system being independently operable such that receiving of the input energy by the energy input system does not interfere with or preclude delivery of the output energy by the energy output system. 
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 5 , wherein the working fluid comprises an energy input fluid;
 the energy input system comprises an energy input working fluid circulator that passes the working fluid through at least one of an input energy heat exchanger and a first electrical energy conversion system that converts input energy from electrical energy to thermal energy that is transferred to the working fluid; and   the energy output system comprises an energy output working fluid loop circulator that passes an energy output fluid through at least one of an output energy heat exchanger and a second electrical energy conversion system that converts thermal energy in the energy output fluid to electrical energy for delivery to the energy demand.   
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising an energy input system for delivering the input energy to the heat retention matrix from an energy source. 
     
     
         8 . A system as in  claim 7 , wherein the input energy comprises electrical input energy and the energy input system comprises an input energy conversion system that converts the electrical input energy to the thermal energy. 
     
     
         9 . A system as in  claim 8 , wherein the input energy conversion system conversion system comprises at least one of an electrical induction system comprising an inductive heating element inside the containment vessel that is inductively heated using a magnetic field generated using the electrical input energy, a resistive heating system comprising a resistive heating element inside the containment vessel that is resistively heated by passing the electrical input energy through the resistive heating element, a plasma heating system comprising a plasma generating system powered by the electrical input energy for creating a plasma within at least one of the containment vessel and a plasma chamber through which the working fluid passes, and an energy input working fluid circulator that passes the working fluid through a first electrical energy conversion system that converts input energy from electrical energy to thermal energy that is transferred to the working fluid. 
     
     
         10 . A system as in  claim 7 , wherein the input energy comprises heat and the energy input system comprises an input energy heat transfer system that transfers the heat to at least one of the working fluid and the heat retention matrix. 
     
     
         11 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising an energy output system for retrieving output energy from the heat retention matrix for delivery to an energy demand. 
     
     
         12 . A system as in  claim 11 , wherein the energy demand is for electrical output energy, and wherein the energy output system comprises an output energy conversion system that converts the stored thermal energy to the electrical output energy. 
     
     
         13 . A system as in  claim 12 , wherein the output energy conversion system comprises at least one of a Stirling engine, a Brayton engine, a Rankine engine, an Otto engine, a boiler, a fluidic heat pump, a solid state heat pump, a turbine-based generator, a piston-based generator, a thermionic device, and a thermo-photovoltaic device. 
     
     
         14 . A system as in  claim 11 , wherein the energy demand is for thermal output energy, and wherein the energy output system comprises at least one of a heat exchanger manifold and a circulation pump for transferring the stored thermal energy to the energy demand. 
     
     
         15 . A system as in  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger manifold comprises a coil containing a heat transfer fluid, the coil being embedded in or between one or more thermal insulation layers of the containment vessel to absorb heat into the heat transfer fluid for extraction to at least one of an electrical generation system that converts the absorbed heat to electricity and a thermal energy utilization system that uses the absorbed heat to perform useful work. 
     
     
         16 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the containment vessel comprises an inner layer comprising a refractory material, an outer layer comprising a structural material, and an insulation layer interposed between the inner layer and the outer layer. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid comprises a composition selected from a group consisting of nitrogen gas (N 2 ) at a nitrogen mole fraction of approximately 35% or greater, argon gas (Ar) at an argon mole fraction of approximately 35% or greater, and neon gas (Ne) at a neon mole fraction of approximately 2% or greater; nitrogen gas (N 2 ) at a nitrogen mole fraction of approximately 35% or greater, argon gas (Ar) at an argon mole fraction of approximately 35% or greater, neon gas (Ne) at a neon mole fraction of approximately 2% or greater, and at least one of krypton gas (Kr) at a krypton mole fraction that is greater than zero and less than approximately 1% and xenon gas (Xe) at a xenon mole fraction that is greater than zero and less than approximately 1%; nitrogen gas (N 2 ) at a nitrogen mole fraction of approximately 50%, argon gas (Ar) at an argon mole fraction of approximately 45%, neon gas (Ne) at a neon mole fraction of approximately 4%, and helium gas (He) at a helium mole fraction of approximately 1%; and nitrogen gas (N) at a nitrogen mole fraction of approximately 50%, argon gas (Ar) at an argon mole fraction of approximately 45%, neon gas (Ne) at a neon mole fraction of approximately 4%, helium gas (He) at a helium mole fraction of approximately 1%, and at least one of krypton gas (Kr) at a krypton mole fraction that is greater than zero and less than approximately 1% and xenon gas (Xe) at a xenon mole fraction that is greater than zero and less than approximately 1%. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a control system that maintains a temperature of the heat retention matrix below approximately 2500 K during energy storage operations. 
     
     
         27 . A method of storing energy in an energy storage system comprising a containment vessel containing a volume of a working fluid and a heat retention matrix, the method comprising:
 receiving input energy at the energy storage system;   retaining the input energy as thermal energy by the heat retention matrix and the working fluid, the heat retention matrix comprising an allotropic form of carbon, and the working fluid comprising nitrogen gas and a noble gas;   treating the working fluid using a reactive compound removal system to remove reactive compounds from the working fluid; and   delivering output energy from the energy storage system.   
     
     
         28 . A method in  claim 27 , further comprising delivering the input energy to the heat retention matrix from an energy source via an energy input system and retrieving output energy from the heat retention matrix for delivery to an energy demand via an energy output system, the energy input system and the energy output system being independently operable such that receiving of the input energy by the energy input system does not interfere with or preclude delivery of the output energy by the energy output system. 
     
     
         29 . A method as in  claim 28 , wherein the energy output system comprises a heat engine, and the method further comprises operating the heat engine with a Carnot efficiency greater than 30% or a Carnot efficiency greater than 45% or a Carnot efficiency greater than 55%. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled)